"The moon and the mattress and the roof."

It is Wales in the late 2020s and the pandemic had swept through the country all but destroying humanity everywhere, despite the lockdown and the rainbows to thank the N.H.S. still painted on windows and walls. Mostly, only the mutants are left, hungry for meat, fast and terrifying, apart from small, scattered groups of people trying to survive. The story follows one girl, Ffion, brought up as their daughter by a couple who already had three older sons. She was different, strong and super agile, always hungry and, until puberty when she moulted, her body covered with downy hair. In time, in her teens, she leaves her parents, her home, her nest, with some travellers from the south of England intent on cleaning the country of the mutants.

Not a zombie story in the truest sense, no shambling hordes of undead here, but Risen nevertheless has all of the components of the best of such tales: the survivors versus terrifying super hungry monsters whose very bite means infection, the fear and search for food, for safety and a hope to one day restore the old world again. But it is seen through the eyes of one who is, herself, not human, but something new. And, despite some of her less than pleasant acts and thoughts, it would be very hard for the reader not to empathize with her, so we'll is this book written. It vividly brings to live not only all of the protagonists involved, but also the landscape, sights and even smells. Magnificent.

This is easily a five star book and the narrafion, by Aria Gray, is excellent, too. Except Ms.Gray has a gentle, attractive American accent whilst the book is set in Wales, the people encountered Welsh or English, both very distinctive accents in their own right and not American. It was disconcerting and jarred with the given text. Also, at times her swift delivery seemed to fluctuate almost out of hearing in quick pulses, though whether this was the narrator herself or a fault in the recording is uncertain, and for these reasons the rating has been reluctantly reduced to four stars.

I am fast becoming a fan of the writings of Adam Smith. The other works of his that I have so far encountered have, like Risen, been both well and vividly written, and unusual - even unique - within their genres. I was most fortunate in being freely gifted with complimentary copy of Risen II, after my requesting it, by the rights holder, via Story Teller. Thank you so much. I have not yet read book one, something I just remedy, but this book stands alone. And, though not for the faint of heart, is highly recommended.

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